Shane Beamer discusses Jadeveon Clowney, his impact on South Carolina

Former South Carolina star defensive end, and top pick of the 2014 NFL Draft Jadeveon Clowney will have his number retired by the program. The jersey retirement ceremony will take place at halftime of the Gamecocks’ season opener against Georgia State on Saturday. This will be the first time Clowney is back at his old stomping grounds in quite some time. Current South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer reveals what it means to have a player of Clowney magnitude back on campus. 

“We constantly have former players that are coming back to visit and watch practice… to have a guy of Jadeveon’s magnitude be back; I mean, just what that signing meant… It was a long time of waiting for him to sign and but to sign a player of that magnitude; it goes back to what we tell recruits now. When we were winning at a really really high level, we were doing it by keeping the best players in South Carolina at home. We’ve done that this year with the guys that are committed to us right now. And we need to continue to win our share of those battles. But Jadeveon was a great statement when he came and followed Marcus Lattimore, Alshon Jeffrey, Stephan Gilmore, and guys from the previous years also. So it’ll be great to see him. “

Clowney was a two-time All-American in his three seasons at South Carolina, including earning SEC Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2012. He holds the Gamecocks’ single-season records for tackles for loss (23.5), career sacks (13) in 2012, and second all-time in career tackles for loss. 

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South Carolina to retire Jadeveon Clowney’s jersey

The Gamecocks will retire Clowney’s No. 7 jersey in their season opener against Georgia State next weekend. The jersey will be retired at halftime of the game.

“We are excited to honor one of our greatest Gamecock football players ever, Jadeveon Clowney, by retiring his jersey at our first game of the season,” South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner said. “He helped lead us to three 11-win seasons as one of the best players in college football.”

The play of his career came at the end of his sophomore season where he forced a fumble in the 2013 Outback Bowl, launching his stardom to the national stage.

He helped elevate the Gamecocks to a national stage. South Carolina never lost more than two games in a season during Clowney’s career and finished with its highest ranking ever after the 2013 season. Clowney also never lost to Clemson.

Clowney becomes the fifth Gamecock to have his football jersey retired. Sterling Sharpe’s No. 2 was the last one. Steve Wadiak (37), George Rogers (38) and Mike Johnson (56) were the others.